Kohat

Kohat (Urdu: کوہاٹ) is a medium sized town in central North West Frontier Province in Pakistan. Kohat is the capital of Kohat District. The town contains a British-era fort with a pool, various bazaars, cantonment area, the tombs of the Sufi teacher Haji Bahadar Ali Abdullah Shah, Mian Fateh Shah (Sherkot, kohat) many mosques and schools. The Narrow Gauge Railway runs through the town. Until the abolition of the divisions of Pakistan it was the capital of Kohat Division. To the north of Kohat lies the Kohat Pass.

History

The early history of the district is limited to the vaguest traditions. It is said that in the Buddhist times, two Rajas named Adh and Kohat settled alongwith the northern border of the district. The remnants of the Buddhist day is a road cut off the mountain side, on the western skirts of the Jawaki hills near Kotal Post which leads by an even gradient towards the crest.

The first historical mention of Kohat is to be found in the memoirs of Emperor Babar who visited Kohat in I 1505 AD. Babar in his memoirs calls the inhabitants of the area as Afghan.

After Babar the history of Kohat revolves around two major tribes namely Bangash and Khattak. These people appear to have settled in the district, during 14th am 15th centuries. From 16th to 18th centuries, Kohat remained as a part of Afghanistan Kingdom, administered by the Chiefs of two afore mentioned tribes. In the beginning of 19th century Kohat came under the control of Sikhs who ultimately withdrew leaving to the administrative control of Khan of Teri in 1836 AD.

Kohat was finally annexed to the British dominion on 28th March 1849 with the rest of Punjab and an Assistant Commissioner was posted here to run the administration and to look after the British interests. In the initial stages of the British administration, the locals of the area posed considerable problems. Later on some of the tribe joined with the British Government and helped them in running the affairs of the ar smoothly. Nevertheless, the Britishers were never at peace in this part of their Kingdom as resistance and opposition always cropped from one quarter or the other. But their tactics of "Divide and Rule" ultimately strengthened their hold over the region. They put one tribe against the other by giving preference to one against the other and finally succeeded in administration them. An example of British un-rest in this area is the event of the brave Afridi Ajab Khan, who forced to surrender the entire British administration of the district against his demands.

Ethnicity and Tribes

The major tribes are Bangash and Khattak along with Syyed, Awan, Shinwari, Sheikhan and Paracha which form the part of the population of the district. In addition to the above the Afridis from Darra have settled in Babri Banda and the Orakzai Wazir in the adjacent areas of Kohat and Tanda dam. A good number of Indian Refugees, Afghan refugees and Behari repatriates from Bangladesh have settled in Kohat. The major tribes in Frontier Region Kohat are Zarghum Khel , Akhurwal , Sheraki , Toor Chappar and Bosti Khel. Pushto is the predominant language while Hindku is mostly spoken and understood in Kohat city and adjacent areas.

Sects

The population of Kohat district is predominantly sunni. Between eighty to ninety thousands shias are also settled in the district and they stretch from Chikarkot bala to Kachai (i.e. southern border of Kohat). A large number of Christian families most of whom are employees of Municipal Committee, Cantonment Board and defence services also reside in Kohat city and Cantonment area. Some scattered families of Hindus also reside in Kohat, Kachai and Marai while a good numbers of Balmiks are employed in various local bodies. These sects are enjoying full religious freedom.

Geography

Name, Location, Boundary and Area As mentioned in the history, in the Buddhist times, two Rajas namely Adh and Kohat settled along the northern border of the district. Raja Kohat gave his name to the town of Kohat and Raja Adh to the fort, the ruins of which are found on the hill side north of Muhammadzai, a village 6 kilometers to the west of Kohat. Another version about this name is that it is a combination of two words, "Koh and Hat" meaning mountain market i.e. a bazar situated in the mountain.

The district lies between 33° - 04’ and 33° - 34’ north latitudes and 70° - 29’ and 72° - 01' east longitudes. It is bounded on the north by Orakzai agency, tribal areas adjoining Kohat, Peshawar and Nowshera districts, on the east by Attock district of the Punjab province, on the south by Mianwali district of the Punjab province and Karak district and on the west by Hangu district and Orakzai agency of FATA.

The total area of the district is 2545 square kilometers.

Physical features/Topography

The topography of the district is dominated by the mountains and hills. In the northwest of the district the important ranges include lower Miranzai and Bangash, which run in an eastwest direction. Further in the south is Kamar -Tanda. The height of these ranges varies from 650 to 1000 meters above the sea level. In the northeast the Sowaki and Adan Khel hills run in a southwest -northeast direction. These hills gradually rise in the extreme northeastern part of the district. The intervening open valleys between the hills are seldom more than eight kilometers in width. The Kohat valley is most important agriculturally rich area. Generally, the district is elevated and the ranges attain only inconsiderable heights above the plain area. The headquarter town of Kohat is more than 550 meters above the sea level.

Rivers and Streams

The river Indus forms the eastern boundary of the district, which separates it from the province of Punjab. Kohat Toi is a principal stream, which enters from Hangu district and flowing to east and southeast, drains into river Indus. The river has a small perennial flow, which disappears before it reaches the town of Kohat, it reappears again at some distance down stream and then flows continuously to the Indus. The Kohat Toi has several small torrents or tributaries, which join it at different places. Another, stream Teri Toi, which flows from west to east, in the southern half of the district, joins the river Indus. The river has a tittle or no perennial flow.

Flora

The common trees are ber, gurgulla, sanatha, phulal, olea etc. All kind of roses, bougain villea, kashmalo, gul-e-nargis, gui-e-dawoodi and other seasonal flowers are planted and sown in the district.

Fauna

The common wild life found in the district is hare, jackal, wolf, fox, wild cat, chakor, black partridge, grey partridge, urial, chinkara, blue bull, hogdeer, water fowl, see-see etc.

Administration

DIG Police : Salah-ud-Din Khan. PSP

District Nazim: Seth Gohar Saifullah Khan

Transport

Much of the transport is privately operated within the city limits. There are also many buses that pass through the city via the Indus Highway. Most going to Peshawar and running between Bannu, D.I. Khan, Islamabad and rest of Pakistan. The railway line is operated between Kohat and Rawal Pindi only.

There is a total of 372 kilometers of metalled roads in the district. Indus Highway passes through the district. Some of the main roads include (i) Kohat Khushal Garh road (ii) Kohat Hangu road (iii) Kohat Dhoda Guddi road (iv) Jata Shakardara road.

The people of the district were longing for tunnel at the Kotal hills. Owing to the genuine demand of the people the Government has recently sanctioned a huge amount for this project, benefiting all the southern districts. The work has already been started. The following are some salient features of the project.

Total project cost: 6626.75 millions

Total length of approached road: 29.8 kilometers

Length of north section: 7.7 kilometers

Length of south section: 22.20 kilometers

Length of tunnel: 1.89 kilometers

Width of tunnel: 10.3 meters

Black topped: 7.3 meters

Shoulders: 3.0 meters

Time of completion: 48 months

Source: Highway Authority , Kohat, 1999

Utility services

The city is facilitated with two dams; Tanda Dam and Gandiali Dam. The former is located in the SW of the city and the later is located in the SE. Moreover , the city is giving a good friendship symbol between Japan and Pakistan by having a 1.8km long tunnel constructed by Taisei Corporation of Japan.

Demographics

Majority of the population of Kohat is Ethnic Pashtun followed by a minority Hindko peoples living in Central Kohat and area of Bazadi Chakarchot.

The people of Kohat are mostly conservative, though modernization has been accepted moderately. They still believe in the age-long veneration for certain families due to the piety of such families and the service they have rendered for the society in general and religion in particular. Some of the famous families include the Pir Imran Shah and Pir Shahen Shah, Pir Syed Kamal family of Pir Khel, Gilanis of Jungle Khel, Syeds of Usterzai Payan, Bangash tribe, Qazis, Banuris,Mian Khels of Kohat Bazar and specially Kattaks of Lachi and Shakardara. Pir Shahen Shah was the first ever elected representative from Kohat. He was elected to the Legislative assembly of 1946. On Independence, he was embraced by Quaid Azam and congratulated for his struggle for independence.

Villages and towns.

Lachi(Tehsil)

Lachi is the largest town of kohat with population of more then 53000 according to 1998 cencus.its impotence can be easily imagined by the fact that present member of national Assembly NA-14 Kohat, Mufti Ibrar sultan belonging from Lachi, was elected in 2002 for session 2002-2007.remember that member of provancial assembly for PF-39 (Kohat),Khanzada Shad Muhammad Khan is also from Lachi. Also its location on main Indus Highway, makes town of worth importence.Town is famous for fresh vegetables and delicious local food Pakoras.

Usterzai Payan
Usterzai Bala
Sherkot
Ali Zai / Khade Zai
Kachai
Muhammad Zai
Nusrat Khel

Gumbat
Shakardara(town)
Barh
Togh
jabbi

Media

Radio Pakistan FM94 MHz

Education

Kohat is home to the following educational Institutions:

High Schools

• Cadet College, Kohat
• Garison College, Kohat
• Army Public School, Kohat
• PAF Inter College, Kohat
• Gandhara College, Kohat
• FG Boys High School, Kohat
• City School, Kohat
• Cantonment Board Public School, Kohat
• Fauji foundation model school, kohat
• St. Joseph's Convent High School, Kohat
• Jack n Jill High School, Kohat
• Government High School No. 1 for Boys, Kohat
• Government High School No. 2 for Boys, Kohat
• Government High School No. 3 for Boys, Kohat
• Government High School No. 4 for Boys, Kohat
• Government Comprehensive High Scholl, Pindi Road, Kohat
• Al-Hafiz Fazal Public High School, Kohat
• Sir Syed Public High School, Kohat
• DILS Academy, Kohat

Colleges and Universities

• Kohat University of Science & Technology
• Kohat Medical College
• Kohat Law College
• Preston University
• Govt Girls Degree College
• Govt Degree College No.2 for Boys, Peshawar Road, Kohat
• FG Degree College for Girls
• Govt Post Graduate College for Boys, Rawalpindi Road, Kohat
• Central Science College for Boys, KDA Kohat
• Gandhara College for Boys, KDA Kohat
• Fatima Jinnah College for Girls, KDA Kohat

See also

• 1924 Kohat riots

References

• "Kohat District" (Web). Sustainable Development Networking Programme, Pakistan. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
• [1] (dead link, December 13, 2007)